Heat Exchanger for Vehicle

ABSTRACT

A heat exchanger for a vehicle is provided on the air-conditioning pipe between a compressor and an expansion valve in an air conditioning system, and may include: a heat exchanger unit alternately formed with first and second flow paths in an inner portion in which a refrigerant is condensed through a heat exchange of a refrigerant and a working fluid; first and second inlets formed to flow in the refrigerant and the working fluid into the inner portion; first and second outlets each formed on another side of the heat exchanger unit to exhaust the refrigerant and the working fluid; and a noise reducing unit provided on one side of the heat exchanger unit to reduce noise and vibration generated when the refrigerant supplied from the compressor is moved.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority of Korean Patent ApplicationNumber 10-2012-0110928 filed Oct. 5, 2012, the entire contents of whichapplication is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for a vehicle tocondense a refrigerant through a heat exchange with working fluid.

2. Description of Related Art

An air conditioning system includes a compressor to compress arefrigerant, a condenser to condense and liquefy the compressedrefrigerant in the compressor, an expansion valve to expand rapidly thecondensed and liquefied refrigerant in the condenser, an evaporator toevaporate the expanded refrigerant in the expansion valve, and the like.

Here, the refrigerant used in the air conditioning system is movedthrough an air conditioning pipe by which the compressor, the condenser,the expansion valve and the evaporator are is interconnected to oneanother.

However, in the air conditioning system of the related art as describedabove, a noise and vibration are generated in the air conditioning pipe.

In order to prevent this, a method in which a muffler is mounted on thepipe has been used, but the layout is complex and costs are increased.

The information disclosed in this Background section is only forenhancement of understanding of the general background of the inventionand should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestionthat this information forms the prior art already known to a personskilled in the art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Various aspects of the present invention provide for to a heat exchangerfor a vehicle having advantages of reducing a noise and vibrationgenerated in the air conditioning pipe. Accordingly, the presentinvention is intended to provide a heat exchanger for a vehicle toreduce a noise and vibration generated by moving a refrigerant.

Various aspects of the present invention provide for a heat exchangerfor a vehicle that is interconnected through an air-conditioning pipeand provided on the air-conditioning pipe between a compressor and anexpansion valve in an air conditioning system in which a refrigerant iscirculated, including: a heat exchanger unit alternately formed with afirst flow path and a second flow path in an inner portion in which arefrigerant is condensed through a heat exchange of a refrigerantpassing the first flow path and a working fluid passing the second flowpath; first and second inlets formed on one side of the heat exchangernit to flow in the refrigerant and the working fluid into the innerportion, respectively and each connected to the first and second flowpaths; first and second outlets each formed on another side of the heatexchanger unit by corresponding to the first and second inlets andinterconnected to the first and second flow paths to exhaust therefrigerant and the working fluid that has passed the heat exchangerunit and; a noise reducing unit provided on one side of the heatexchanger unit by corresponding to the first inlet in which therefrigerant flows to reduce noise and vibration generated when therefrigerant supplied from the compressor is moved.

The noise reducing unit may include a cover unit having one end mountedto cover an upper portion of the first inlet from a locationcorresponding to the first inlet, at the one side of the heat exchangerunit, and another end mounted in a diagonal direction toward a cornerportion of the heat exchanger unit from the first inlet to form therefrigerant moving path between of the one side of the heat exchangerunit, an interconnection hole formed on the other end of the cover unitsuch that the refrigerant flows in the refrigerant moving path, apartition wall formed to be protruded toward the one side of the heatexchanger unit along a longitudinal direction of the cover portion onboth side of an inner side of the refrigerant moving path to form aseparate space on both sides of the inner portion, and a reduction holeformed between the one side of the heat exchanger unit and an end of thepartition wall to interconnect the refrigerant moving path and thespace.

The reduction hole may be formed along a longitudinal direction of thepartition wall such that the refrigerant passing the refrigerant movingpath flows in the space.

The reduction hole may be formed to have a plurality of holes at equalintervals along the longitudinal direction of the partition wall betweenof one side of the heat exchanger unit.

Various aspects of the present invention provide for a noise reducingunit in the heat exchanger for a vehicle that may include a cover platemounted on one side of the heat exchanger unit and, formed to beprotruded toward the corner portion of the heat exchanger unit from alocation corresponding to the first inlet to form the refrigerant movingpath in the protrusion, an interconnection hole formed on the protrusionfrom the opposite side of the first inlet such that the refrigerantflows in the refrigerant moving path, a partition wall formed to beprotruded forward the one side of the heat exchanger unit on both sideof the inner side of the refrigerant moving path to form a separatespace on both sides of the inner portion of the refrigerant moving path,and a reduction hole formed between the one side of the heat exchangerunit and an end of the partition wall to interconnect the refrigerantmoving path and the space.

The cover plate may be formed with a hole interconnected to the firstand second inlets, respectively, by corresponding to the first inlet andthe second inlet, formed and be formed as the same appearance as that ofthe plate, such that it may be stacked on one side of the heat exchangerunit.

Various aspects of the present invention provide for a noise reducingunit in the heat exchanger for a vehicle that may include a cover platemounted on one side of the heat exchanger unit and, formed to beprotruded toward the corner portion of the heat exchanger unit from alocation corresponding to the first inlet to form the refrigerant movingpath in the protrusion, an interconnection hole formed on the protrusionfrom the opposite side of the first inlet such that the refrigerantflows in the refrigerant moving path, an upper cover mounted on theupper portion of the protrusion in the longitudinal direction to form aspace between of the protrusion, and a reduction hole formed in thelongitudinal direction of the protrusion by corresponding to the uppercover to interconnect the refrigerant moving path and the space.

The cover plate may be formed with a hole interconnected to the firstand second inlets, respectively, by corresponding to the first inlet andthe second inlet, formed and be formed as the same appearance as that ofthe plate, such that it may be stacked on one side of the heat exchangerunit.

The heat exchanger unit may be formed in a plate type with a pluralityof stacked plates the heat exchanger unit.

As described above, according to various aspects of the presentinvention, the noise and vibration generated while the refrigerant ismoved can be reduced, thereby capable of preventing noise and vibrationfrom being transmitted to the interior of the vehicle.

In addition, since the noise and vibration generated while therefrigerant is moved can be reduced, without mounting a separatemuffler, space utilization can be improved and the manufacturing costcan be reduced.

The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other featuresand advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in moredetail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, andthe following Detailed Description, which together serve to explaincertain principles of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary heat exchangerfor a vehicle according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating an exemplary heatexchanger for a vehicle according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a reducing hole applied toa noise reducing unit in an exemplary heat exchanger for a vehicleaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary heat exchangerfor a vehicle according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line B-B of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a reducing hole applied toan exemplary noise reducing unit in a heat exchanger for a vehicleaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary heat exchangerfor a vehicle according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line C-C of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of thepresent invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) willbe described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will beunderstood that present description is not intended to limit theinvention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, theinvention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplaryembodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalentsand other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined by the appended claims.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective and rear perspective views illustrating aheat exchanger for a vehicle according to various embodiments of thepresent invention, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a lineA-A of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating areducing hole applied to a noise reducing unit in a heat exchanger for avehicle according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, according to various embodiments of thepresent invention, a heat exchanger 100 for a vehicle 100 has astructure in which a refrigerant used in an air conditioning system ofthe vehicle can be condensed through a heat exchange with a workingfluid, and noise and vibration generated when the refrigerant is movedcan be reduced.

Here, the heat exchanger 100 for vehicle according to variousembodiments of the present invention is provided on the air-conditioningpipe between a compressor and an expansion valve in which a refrigerantis condensed through a heat exchange of the refrigerant and a workingfluid.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the heat exchanger 100 according to variousembodiments of the present invention is configured to include a heatexchanger unit 110, first and second inlets 118 a and 118 b, first andsecond outlets 119 a and 119 b, and a noise reducing unit 120, and eachconfiguration for the components will be described in more detail asfollows.

First of all, the heat exchanger unit 110 is alternately formed with afirst flow path 114 and a second flow path 116 in an inner portion inwhich a refrigerant is condensed through a heat exchange of arefrigerant passing the first flow path 114 and a working fluid passingthe second flow path 116.

The heat exchanger unit 110 that has such a configuration may be formedin a plate shape (or, referred to as a ‘plate type’) with a plurality ofstacked plates 112.

Here, the working fluid may be a coolant that has been cooled through aradiator in a vehicle cooling system.

In various embodiments, the first inlet 118 a and the second inlet 118 bis formed on one side of the heat exchanger unit 110 such that therefrigerant and the working fluid flow in the inner portion, and eachconnected to the first and second flow paths 114 and 116.

In addition, the first and second outlets 119 a and 119 b are eachformed on another side of the heat exchanger unit 110 by correspondingto the first and second inlets 118 a and 119 b and interconnected to thefirst and second flow paths 114 and 116 such that the working fluid andthe refrigerant passing the heat exchanger unit 110 may be exhausted.

Meanwhile, in various embodiments, even if the heat exchanger unit 110is described that formed with two flow paths, two inlets and two outletsas an exemplary embodiment, however, one will appreciate that othersuitable configurations may be utilized.

In addition, in various embodiments, even if the working fluid isdescribed that configured as a coolant as an exemplary embodiment,however, one will appreciate that other suitable configurations may beutilized.

In addition, the noise reducing nit 120 is provided on one side of theheat exchanger unit 110 by corresponding to the first inlet 118 a inwhich the refrigerant flows to reduce noise and vibration generated whenthe refrigerant supplied from the compressor is moved.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the noise reducing unit 120 is configured toinclude a cover unit 122, an interconnection hole 123, a partition wall126 and a reduction hole 128 and each configuration for the componentswill be described in more detail as follows.

First of all, the cover unit 122 is mounted to cover an upper portion ofthe first inlet 118 a by one end of the cover unit 122 in the one sideof the heat exchanger unit 110.

Another end of the cover unit 122 is extended in a diagonal directiontoward a corner portion of the heat exchanger unit 110 from the firstinlet 118 a, such that a refrigerant moving path 124 is formed betweenof the heat exchanger unit 110.

Here, the cover unit 122 may be mounted on one side of the heatexchanger unit 110 by means of welding or the like.

In various embodiments, the interconnection hole 123 is formed on anupper side of the other end portion of the cover unit 122, and therefrigerant flows in the refrigerant moving path 124.

Here, the refrigerant that flows in the refrigerant moving path 124 ispassed through the first flow path 114 of the heat exchanger unit 110via the first inflow hole 118 a and flows in the second inflow hole 118b, such that the refrigerant is condensed through a heat exchange with acoolant, which is a working fluid passing the second flow path 116, inthe inner portion of the heat exchange unit 110.

The partition wall 126 is formed to be protruded on both sides of aninterior surface of the cover unit 122 and extended along a longitudinaldirection of the cover unit 122, and a separate space S is formed onboth sides of the inner portion of the refrigerant moving path 124 bymeans of the partition wall.

In addition, the reduction hole 128 is formed between the one side ofthe heat exchanger unit 110 and the partition wall 126, such that therefrigerant moving path 124 and the space S are interconnected.

Here, the reduction hole 128 may be formed along the longitudinaldirection of the partition wall 126 such that the refrigerant passingthe refrigerant moving path 124 can flow in the space S, or may beformed at intervals as shown in FIG. 4.

Meanwhile, in various embodiments, even if the reduction hole 128 isdescribed that formed into a quadrangle shape as various embodiments, itis not limited to the disclosed embodiments and the shape may be formedas a polygon shape that contains a circle or a quadrangle.

When the refrigerant flows through the interconnection hole 123 and ismoved along the refrigerant moving path 124, the refrigerant flowsthrough the reduction hole 128 in the space S that is each formed onboth sides of the cover unit 122 through the partition wall 126.

Then, the refrigerant will cause an inverted frequency of the noise andvibration frequency generated when the refrigerant flows in the space Sthrough the reduction hole 128 and is moved along the refrigerant movingpath 124.

The inverted frequency will offset standing waves due to the noise andvibration generated while moving along the refrigerant moving path 124,thereby capable of reducing the vibration and noise.

Due to the noise and vibration generated While fluid is moved along themoving path, the standing waves are introduced into a closed and sealedspace connected through a small entrance or hole formed on the movingpath. At this time, the noise and vibration of the inverted frequency ofthe standing wave is generated, wherein the noise of a specificfrequency band (mainly, high frequency domain) will be offset by theinverted frequency.

That is, in various embodiments of the present invention, the noisereducing unit 120 is integrally configured to the heat exchanger 110,such that the noise and vibration can be reduced when the refrigerant ismoved.

Accordingly, the refrigerant used in the air conditioning system of thevehicle can be condensed through heat exchange with the working fluid,and the noise and vibration generated while the refrigerant is moved canbe reduced through the noise reducing unit 120 at the same time, therebycapable of improving overall NVH performance of the vehicle.

In addition, since the noise and vibration generated while therefrigerant is moved can be reduced through the noise reducing unit 120that is integrally configured in the heat exchanger 100, withoutmounting a separate muffler, space utilization can be improved bysimplifying a layout in a narrow engine room.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a heat exchanger for a vehicleaccording to various embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 6 is across-sectional view taken along a line B-B of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is across-sectional view illustrating a reducing hole applied to a noisereducing unit in a heat exchanger for a vehicle according to variousembodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the heat exchanger 200 according to variousembodiments of the present invention is configured to include a heatexchanger unit 210, first and second inlets 218 a and 218 b, first andsecond outlets 219 a and 219 b (see FIG. 2), and a noise reducing unit220, as shown in FIG. 5 and each configuration for the components willbe described in more detail as follows.

First of all, the heat exchanger unit 210 is alternately formed with afirst flow path 214 and a second flow path 216 in an inner portion inwhich a refrigerant is condensed through a heat exchange of arefrigerant passing the first flow path 214 and a working fluid passingthe second flow path 216.

The heat exchanger unit 210 that has such a configuration may be formedin a plate shape (or, referred to as a ‘plate type’) with a plurality ofstacked plates 212.

Here, the working fluid may be a coolant that has been cooled through aradiator in a vehicle cooling system.

In various embodiments, the first inlet 218 a and the second inlet 218 bis formed on one side of the heat exchanger unit 210 such that therefrigerant and the working fluid flow in the inner portion, and eachconnected to the first and second flow paths 214 and 216.

In addition, as described with reference to FIG. 2 above, the first andsecond outlets 219 a and 219 b are each formed on another side of theheat exchanger unit 210 by corresponding to the first and second inlets218 a and 219 b and interconnected to the first and second flow paths214 and 216 such that the working fluid and the refrigerant passing theheat exchanger unit 110 may be exhausted.

On the other hand, in various embodiments, even if the heat exchangerunit 210 is described that formed with two flow paths, two inlets andtwo outlets as various embodiments, it is not limited to the disclosedembodiments.

In addition, in various embodiments, even if the working fluid isdescribed that configured as a coolant as various embodiments, it is notlimited to the disclosed embodiments and it is may be applied bychanging the working fluid.

In addition, the noise reducing unit 220 is provided on one side of theheat exchanger unit 210 by corresponding to the first inlet 218 a inwhich the refrigerant flows to reduce noise and vibration generated whenthe refrigerant supplied from the compressor is moved.

The noise reducing unit 220 according to various embodiments of thepresent invention may be configured to include a cover plate 221, aninterconnection hole 223, a partition wall 226 and a reduction hole 228,as shown in FIG. 6, and each configuration for the components will bedescribed in more detail as follows.

First, the cover plate 221 is mounted on one side of the heat exchangerunit 210 and a protrusion 222 is formed on the one side thereof.

The protrusion 222 is extended in a diagonal direction of the firstinlet 218 a toward a corner portion of the heat exchanger unit 210 froma location corresponding to the first inlet 218 a, such that arefrigerant moving path 224 is formed between of the one side of theheat exchanger unit 210 in the inner portion thereof.

Here, the cover plate 221 is formed with a hole interconnected to thefirst and second inlets 218 a and 218 b by corresponding to the firstinlet 218 a and the second inlet 218 b, and is formed as the sameappearance as that of the plate 212, such that it may be stacked on oneside of the heat exchanger unit 210.

In various embodiments, the interconnection hole 223 is formed on theprotrusion 222 from the opposite side of the first inlet 218 a, and therefrigerant flows in the refrigerant moving path 224.

Here, the refrigerant that flows in the refrigerant moving path 224 ispassed through the first flow path 214 of the heat exchanger unit 210via the first inflow hole 218 a and flows in the second inflow hole 218b, such that the refrigerant is condensed through a heat exchange with acoolant, which is a working fluid passing the second flow path 216, inthe inner portion of the heat exchanger unit 210.

The partition wall 226 is formed to be protruded on both sides of aninterior surface of the protrusion 222 and extended along a longitudinaldirection of the protrusion 222. The partition wall 226 forms a separatespace S on both sides of the inner portion of the refrigerant movingpath 124.

In addition, the reduction hole 228 is formed between the one side ofthe cover plate 221 and the partition wall 226, such that therefrigerant moving path 224 and the space S are interconnected.

Here, the reduction hole 228 may be formed along the longitudinaldirection of the partition wall 226 such that the refrigerant passingthe refrigerant moving path 224 can flow in the space S, or may beformed at intervals along the longitudinal direction of the partitionwall 226 as shown in FIG. 7.

Meanwhile, in various embodiments, even if the reduction hole 228 isdescribed that formed into a quadrangle shape as various embodiments, itis not limited to the disclosed embodiments and the shape may be formedas a polygon shape that contains a circle or a quadrangle.

In the noise reducing unit 220 configured as described above, when therefrigerant flows through the interconnection hole 223 and is movedalong the refrigerant moving path 224, the refrigerant flows through thereduction hole 228 in the space S that is each formed on both sides ofthe inner portion of the protrusion 222 through the partition wall 126.

Then, the refrigerant will cause an inverted frequency of the noise andvibration frequency generated when the refrigerant flows in the space Sthrough the reduction hole 228 and is moved along the refrigerant movingpath 224.

In various embodiments of the present invention, the noise reducing unit220 is integrally configured to the heat exchanger 210, such that thereis no need that the air conditioning pipe is set to be longer, or aseparate muffler is mounted, in order to reduce the noise and vibrationwhen the refrigerant is moved.

Accordingly, the refrigerant used in the air conditioning system of thevehicle can be condensed through heat exchange with the working fluid,and the noise and vibration generated while the refrigerant is moved canbe reduced through the noise reducing unit 220 at the same time, therebycapable of preventing noise and vibration from being transmitted to theinterior of the vehicle.

In addition, since the noise and vibration generated while therefrigerant is moved can be reduced through the noise reducing unit 220that is integrally configured in the heat exchanger 200, without settingthe air conditioning pipe or mounting a separate muffler, therebycapable of simplifying a layout in a narrow engine room.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a heat exchanger for a vehicleaccording to various embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. 9 isa cross-sectional view taken along a line C-C of FIG. 8.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the heat exchanger 200 according to variousembodiments of the present invention is configured to include a heatexchanger unit 310, first and second inlets 318 a and 318 b, first andsecond. outlets 319 a and 319 b (see FIG. 2), and a noise reducing unit320, as shown in FIG. 8 and each configuration for the components willbe described in more detail as follows.

First of all, the heat exchanger unit 310 is alternately formed firstflow path 314 and a second flow path 316 in an inner portion in which arefrigerant is condensed through a heat exchange of a refrigerantpassing the first flow path 314 and a working fluid passing the secondflow path 316.

The heat exchanger unit 310 that has such a configuration may be formedin a plate shape (or, referred to as a ‘plate type’) with a plurality ofstacked plates 312.

Here, the working fluid may be a coolant that has been cooled through aradiator in a vehicle cooling system.

In various embodiments, the first inlet 318 a and the second inlet 318 bis formed on one side of the heat exchanger unit 310 such that therefrigerant and the working fluid flow in the inner portion, and eachconnected to the first and second flow paths 314 and 316.

In addition, as described with reference to FIG. 2 above, the first andsecond outlets 319 a and 319 b are each formed on another side of theheat exchanger unit 310 by corresponding to the first and second inlets318 a and 319 b and interconnected to the first and second flow paths314 and 316 such that the working fluid and the refrigerant passing theheat exchanger unit 310 may be exhausted.

Meanwhile, in various embodiments, even if the heat exchanger unit 310is described that formed with two flow paths, two inlets and two outletsas various embodiments, it is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

In addition, in various embodiments, even if the working fluid isdescribed that configured as a coolant as various embodiments, it is notlimited to the disclosed embodiments.

In addition, the noise reducing unit 320 is provided on one side of theheat exchanger unit 310 by corresponding to the first inlet 318 a inwhich the refrigerant flows to reduce noise and vibration generated whenthe refrigerant supplied from the compressor is moved.

The noise reducing unit 320 according to various embodiments of thepresent invention may be configured to include a cover plate 321, aninterconnection hole 323, an upper cover 226 and a reduction hole 228,as shown in FIG. 6, and each configuration for the components will bedescribed in more detail as follows.

First, the cover plate 321 is mounted on one side of the heat exchangerunit 210 and a protrusion 222 is formed on the one side thereof.

The protrusion 222 is extended in a diagonal direction of the firstinlet 318 a toward a corner portion of the heat exchanger unit 310 froma location corresponding to the first inlet 318 a, such that arefrigerant moving path 224 is formed between of the one side of theheat exchanger unit 310 in the inner portion thereof.

Here, the cover plate 321 is formed with a hole interconnected to thefirst and second inlets 318 a and 318 b by corresponding to the firstinlet 318 a and the second inlet 318 b, and is formed as the sameappearance as that of the plate 312, such that it may be stacked on oneside of the heat exchanger unit 310.

In various embodiments, the interconnection hole 323 is formed on theprotrusion 322 from the opposite side of the first inlet 318 a, and therefrigerant flows in the refrigerant moving path 324.

Here, the refrigerant that flows in the refrigerant moving path 324 ispassed through the first flow path 314 of the heat exchanger unit 310via the first inflow hole 318 a and flows in the second inflow hole 318b, such that the refrigerant is condensed through a heat exchange with acoolant, which is a working fluid passing the second flow path 316, inthe inner portion of the heat exchanger unit 310.

The upper cover 326 is mounted in the longitudinal direction on theupper portion of the protrusion 322 to form the space S between of theprotrusion 322.

The upper cover 326 may be mounted on the upper portion of theprotrusion 322 by means of welding or the like.

In addition, the reduction hole 328 is formed in the longitudinaldirection of the protrusion 322 by corresponding to the upper cover 326,such that the refrigerant moving path 324 and the space S areinterconnected.

Here, the reduction hole 328 may be formed at intervals along thelongitudinal direction of the protrusion 322 such that the refrigerantpassing the refrigerant moving path 324 can flow in the space S.

Meanwhile, in various embodiments, even if the reduction hole 328 isdescribed that formed into a circle shape as various embodiments, it isnot limited to the disclosed embodiments and the shape may be formed asa polygon shape.

In the noise reducing unit 320 configured as described above, when therefrigerant flows through the interconnection hole 323 and is movedalong the refrigerant moving path 324, the refrigerant flows in thespace S formed between the protrusion 322 and the upper cover 326through the reduction hole 328 formed on the upper portion of theprotrusion 222.

Then, the refrigerant will cause an inverted frequency of the noise andvibration frequency generated when the refrigerant flows in the space Sthrough the reduction hole 328 and is moved along the refrigerant movingpath 324.

The inverted frequency will offset standing waves due to the noise andvibration generated While moving along the refrigerant moving path 324,thereby capable of reducing the vibration and noise of the refrigerantgenerated from the refrigerant moving path 324.

That is, in various embodiments of the present invention, the noisereducing unit 320 is integrally configured to the heat exchanger 310, asa resonance-type muffler using the principle of a Helmholtz resonator,such that there is no need that the air conditioning pipe is set to belonger, or a separate muffler is mounted, in order to reduce the noiseand vibration generated when the refrigerant is moved.

The refrigerant used in the air conditioning system of the vehicle canbe condensed through heat exchange with the working fluid, and the noiseand vibration generated while the refrigerant is moved can be reducedthrough the noise reducing unit 320 at the same time, thereby capable ofpreventing noise and vibration from being transmitted to the interior ofthe vehicle.

In addition, since the noise and vibration generated while therefrigerant is moved can be reduced through the noise reducing unit 320that is integrally configured in the heat exchanger 300, without settingthe air conditioning pipe or mounting a separate muffler, therebycapable of simplifying a layout in a narrow engine room.

Meanwhile, even if the heat exchanger 300 according to variousembodiments of the present invention is described that the upper cover326 is mounted on the upper portion of the protrusion 322 from the coverplate 321 that is integrally and/or monolithically formed with theprotrusion 322, as various embodiments, it is not limited to thedisclosed embodiments. For example, instead of the cover plate 321, thecover unit 122 may be mounted on the first inlet 318 a formed on theheat exchanger unit 310 and the reduction hole is formed on the coverunit 122, thereby capable of mounting the upper cover, as described inthe aforementioned embodiments.

For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appendedclaims, the terms upper, rear, and etc. are used to describe features ofthe exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of suchfeatures as displayed in the figures.

The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention have been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in orderto explain certain principles of the invention and their practicalapplication, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make andutilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as wellas various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended thatthe scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto andtheir equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A heat exchanger for a vehicle provided between acompressor and an expansion valve in an air conditioning system in whicha refrigerant is circulated, comprising: a heat exchanger unit includinga first flow path and a second flow path in an inner portion in Whichthe refrigerant is condensed through a heat exchange of a refrigerantpassing through the first flow path and a working fluid passing throughthe second flow path; first and second inlets formed on one side of theheat exchanger unit to receive the refrigerant and the working fluidinto the inner portion, respectively, and each connected to the firstand second flow paths, respectively; first and second outlets formed onanother side of the heat exchanger unit and interconnected to the firstand second flow paths to exhaust the refrigerant and the working fluid,respectively, that has passed through the heat exchanger unit; and anoise reducing unit provided on one side of the heat exchanger unit bycorresponding to the first inlet in which the refrigerant flows toreduce noise and vibration generated when the refrigerant supplied fromthe compressor is moved.
 2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein thenoise reducing unit includes: a cover unit having one end mounted tocover an upper portion of the first inlet from a location correspondingto the first inlet, and an other end extended in a diagonal directiontoward a corner portion of the heat exchanger unit from the first inletto form the refrigerant moving path; an interconnection hole formed onthe other end of the cover unit such that the refrigerant flows in therefrigerant moving path; a partition wall formed to be protruded towardthe one side of the heat exchanger unit from an inner side of therefrigerant moving path to form a separate space on both sides of theinner portion; and a reduction hole to interconnect the refrigerantmoving path and the space;
 3. The heat exchanger of claim 2, wherein thereduction hole is formed along a longitudinal direction of the partitionwall such that the refrigerant passing the refrigerant moving path flowsin the space.
 4. The heat exchanger of claim 2, wherein the reductionhole is formed at intervals along the longitudinal direction of thepartition wall.
 5. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the noisereducing unit includes: a cover plate mounted on one side of the heatexchanger unit and, formed to be protruded toward the corner portion ofthe heat exchanger unit from a location corresponding to the first inletto form the refrigerant moving path in the protrusion; aninterconnection hole formed on the protrusion from the opposite side ofthe first inlet such that the refrigerant flows in the refrigerantmoving path; and a partition wall formed to be protruded forward the oneside of the heat exchanger unit on both side of the inner side of therefrigerant moving path to form a separate space on both sides of theinner portion of the refrigerant moving path; and wherein the partitionwall is formed with a reduction hole that interconnects the refrigerantmoving path and the space.
 6. The heat exchanger of claim 5, wherein thecover plate is formed with a hole interconnected to the first and secondinlets, respectively, by corresponding to the first inlet and the secondinlet, and stacked on the one side of the heat exchanger unit.
 7. Theheat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the noise reducing unit includes: acover plate mounted on one side of the heat exchanger unit and, formedto be protruded toward the corner portion of the heat exchanger unitfrom a location corresponding to the first inlet to form the refrigerantmoving path in the protrusion; an interconnection hole formed on theprotrusion from the opposite side of the first inlet such that therefrigerant flows in the refrigerant moving path; and an upper covermounted on the upper portion of the protrusion in the longitudinaldirection to form a space between of the protrusion; and wherein theprotrusion is formed with a reduction hole that interconnects therefrigerant moving path and the space.
 8. The heat exchanger of claim 7,wherein the cover plate is formed with a hole interconnected with thefirst and second inlets, respectively, by corresponding to the firstinlet and the second inlet, and stacked on the one side of the heatexchanger unit.
 9. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the heatexchanger unit is formed in a plate type with a plurality of stackedplates.